This submission is Ruth Harrell’s comments to the Town Council Tuesday night:
Town Council and fellow citizens of Mammoth Lakes,
I’d like to emphasize the fact that we are here to offer some ideas and perspectives on solving the budget issues that face our community, not to criticize or be negative. The lawsuit, notwithstanding, the town has been in a budget crisis for close to 4 years now and will not recover unless BOLD steps are taken to change our direction.
Suggestions to consider:
Evaluate the possibility of contracting with the Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement. If this has already been studied, can the citizens of Mammoth learn the results, and if it hasn’t, why not?
Reduce town departments even further than has been done already such as Asst. Town Manager, Parks & Rec Director or Asst., Housing Director, Community Development. When activity picks up, we can contract for services rather than hire full time employees with all the expenses that go with that.
Definitely keep current levels of funding for tourism and even increase it since this is our major source of funding. Tourism is the economic engine of Mammoth Lakes. We cannot afford to cut in this area if we are to increase the revenue.
Consider disincorporation as a town. Years ago, in 1984, when the town incorporated, too much of our property taxes were given away in the deal. This left us even more dependent on TOT than anything else. This position is particularly vulnerable in low TOT years. If the town were unincorporated, the county would be obligated to spend more of our property taxes paid on services and facilities within the Mammoth Lakes area. Occasionally small towns disincorporate when they become fiscally insolvent. i.e. Cabazon, CA 1972
Bankruptcy is certainly an option and restructuring of the town. I believe that these last two ideas are compatible and can include all of the above when restructuring.
Other municipalities have done it successfully and continue today. We have the opportunity to move into the future with a new perspective. Let’s make the most of it and be proactive.
Pretty soon ML will be made up of nothing but transient workers (min wage) and retired old folks… Is that what our community really wants???? When my family goes out to dinner, to the movies, shopping, and to the local school – I see many (but fewer every year) Mammoth… Read more »
Not all of us in town are stuck in a service job …. some of us are work from home people. I have worked out of my home serving clients all over the world since 1990. Some of you people need to give up on service jobs on open your… Read more »
Jake it is great that you are doing something that allows you to work from home and serve clients from “all over the world” and make a living in this expensive town! Many others in town are not so lucky. We rely on people coming here and having a good… Read more »
Well said Bill, Hopefully the 395 communication project will help future growth here and the surrounding areas. This is such a great community!!! The TOT is higher than in many other resort areas but needed I know. I’m not sure what the folks here in town think about this but… Read more »
Well done Bill, Things are tough now and the belts as you say need to be tightened. This is what business is folks. You can’t just keep growing and spending until the end of time. There’s almost always retraction! It’s sort of a checks and balance situation in business. If… Read more »
“Get rid of this.”
“Get rid of that”.
“Reduce employment.”
“Reduce it more.”
“Fire everybody – things are bad.”
(Perhaps this is the way they do things in Seal Beach where the Harrells live.)
Sounds like what a CEO of ski resort would do after a bad snow year.
Declare bankruptcy — dis-incorporate — repeal Prop. R and Measure U — give the airport to the first sucker who will take it. Let MMSA promote tourism since they rake off the most money from the people coming into town. If the local businesses want to promote tourism out of… Read more »
Repeal R and U????? After the local community voted these in?!!?! I don’t think so!!! This may be the ONLY (safe) source of funding for certain programs and trails etc our future. Let MMSA promote tourism(into only their own lodging/business interests)?? They do that already, but so too, should the… Read more »
Hi Bill, Again, I ask you to justify the money people pay in taxes for Prop R and Meas. U. What are we getting for those funds? MLTPA has gotten over a million dollars. Do you see a million dollars worth of trails and public access? And don’t point to… Read more »